It finally happened! Mayra finally took the big plunge. She has been cancelling and postponing the baptism for a few weeks now but a week ago she just called up the Elders and told them she was ready and wanted to be baptized that Tuesday.
So we threw together a little baptism. She didn't want very many people there. There were about 10 people there total. Dave baptised her. It's always so nice to see him exercising that sacred priesthood he holds!
But one kind of weird thing was that her stake doesn't allow the confirmation until the investigator has had two new member discussions. So, Mayra won't be able to be confirmed until next Sunday (because of General Conference). But I'm excited for her to be a full fledged member...finally!
I am so grateful for the whole experience, both the ups AND downs. It has been such a testimony builder. I know, through very personal revelation from the Holy Ghost, that this Church is truly the only way to eternal peace and happiness. I know that Gordon B. Hinckley is a prophet of God and the leader of God's church on this earth. And I am so grateful for him. I know that Jesus Christ, through the Atonement, has all the power to heal and save us if we will humble ourselves and turn our wills over to our Lord and Savior.
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Mayra’s journey has been an exciting one to get to be a part of. This is the first significant missionary experience I have had since I have been home from my full time mission to the Canada Toronto West Mission.
It was refreshing to see the gospel drastically change a person. It gave Mayra so much hope. She has a great deal of faith in its validity. Mayra struggles with anxiety from being around too many people–which has proved to be her biggest struggle so far with church. It is interesting how we all have something that makes living this gospel difficult–and it is interesting to see what a diversity of things exist out there that people struggle with.
On my mission I found many who were not baptized because of their fear of water, afraid of what other people thought, or afraid of being too different from other people. I found others who left the church because of something rude someone said to them or because they took a job that worked Saundays.
It is always something–which in a way gives me hope. With you, with me, everyone trying to live this gospel is struggling with something–being single, being married, their children, not being able to have children, debt, death, age, race, politics, loss, tithing, the owrd of wisdom, chastity, addiction, anti, time. It gives me hope knowing that it is always something, that to struggle is human. Additionally, seeing Mayra and once again seeing the drastic way that the gospel can help us in our current trial, is refreshing and joyous.
It is the atonement of Jesus Christ that allows weak things to become strong for each of us. I am excited for Mayra, that she found the truth she has long been searching for, that she found the freshness of repentance, that she found the fellowship of the Church of Christ. I am renewed in my personal excitement for this gospel.
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints is the true church of Jesus Christ restored on this earth today. I know that Christ is my redeemer and saviour, and that it is through him that we can repent and one day return to live with our Heavenly Father. I know that it was Jesus Christ who came to the boy Joseph Smith to restore the truths that had been lost in the 1,800 years since Christ had himself established his Church on the earth. I know Jospeh Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ and was called as a modern day prophet to restore that church.
I love Joseph Smith and I love Gordon B. Hinckly, the living prohpet today.
I am grateful for my baptism into that church and for the priesthood that makes those ordinances binding on this earth and in heaven. I am grateful for the addition steps that God has taken me on–receiving the Priesthood, serving a 2-yr mission, and especially being married in the temple for time and all eternity. Mayra made a wonderful step in her life and I know she has many wonderful steps ahead of her.
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